Doc Watch: Justice

DEADLINE (B) (2004) - This bare-bones documentary is surprisingly effective in chronicling the process by which Illinois' lame-duck governor at the time, George Ryan, decided whether to end the death penalty before the end of his term. Ryan set up a sort of Peace and Reconciliation commission to hear the arguments of those on Death Row and the families of victims. Filmmakers Katy Chevigny and Kirsten Johnson ("Cameraperson") capture compelling testimony and build a sense of intrigue over what Ryan will do. Most folks will remember the outcome, but if you don't know or have forgotten, let the drama play out.

THE STAIRCASE (A-minus) (2004) - This eight-part TV production launched a thousand true-crime series and podcasts with this French crew's examination of Durham, N.C., writer Michael Peterson and mysterious death of his wife in a pool of blood at the foot of a staircase in their home. TV veteran Jean-Xavier de Lestrade leads a French film crew with a fresh perspective on American jurisprudence.

This is one of the best legal procedurals you will find, as Lestrade gains an all-access pass into the defense strategy of trial lawyer David Rudolf, who has his hands full with an unappealing client, who happens to have been in Germany with his ex-wife when a neighbor woman just happened to die in a very similar manner about 17 years earlier. Peterson's online dalliance with a male escort provides a juicy dramatic twist and comedic relief in the form of the sex worker's animated testimony.

Again, if you either never knew the story or have forgotten the outcome, let it play out without revealing the verdict via Wikipedia. One of the final shots, winding through the bowels of the courthouse, way beyond normal security limits, is a great coup for the film crew. In addition, the psychological profile of Peterson's children, most of whom support him, thanks mainly to a healthy dose of denial. This certainly laid the foundation for the true-crime craze that remains in full flower.